hennessy



D. E. HENNESSY.

ELEVAHNG TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1911. RENEWED JUNE 5.1920.

1,361,257. Patented Dec. 7,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET D. E. HENNESSY.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

APPLICATION FILED IMY 24. 1911. RENEWED JUNES. 1920.

1,3 1,257, Patented Dec. 7,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- 45917161 d'flcwness; a mud-1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. HENNESSY, 0F CUIDAHY. WISCONSIN, ASSIGNCPR TO HERBERT W. COWAN, J. LEWIS WYCKO FF, AND EDWARD N. WHITE, TRUSTEES DOING BUSINESS AS THE COWAN TRUCK COMPANY.

ELEVATING-TRUCK.

Specification of Letters fatent.

Patented Dec. 7. 1926.

Application filed May 24, i917, Serial No. 170,658. Renewed June 5, 1920. Serial No. 356.921.

To u/l iP/IOIH if may oncern lie it known that I. Damien E. HnNNnssY, a citizen of the United States. residing at (udahyn llisconsin, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Elevating- Trucks. of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in elevating trucks, and more especially to trucks in which the elevating mechanism is operated 'l'rom the handle which is used to pull or push and to teer the truck.

The present invention is designed as an improvement in that tr )e of truck employing "astep-hy-step or jack-operated mechanism for raisin the load supporting mem her of the truer, and in the preferred emhodimenl' comprises aratehet mechanism arranged to be operated 't'rom the steering and pulling hanlle in the truck. An ohject of the presenttfinve ntio1 is to provide means for connecting the pawl and ratchet mechanism to the handle, which means shall be of such nature that the connection can he made by a simple movement of the handle and can he readily hrokcn whether the load supporting member is in elevated. lowered. or intermediate position.

Further objects are to provide a simple and ell'ective power-inultiplying connection hetween the elevating mechanism and the handle of an elevating truclf; and to provide means hy-which said power-multiplying connection may either be detached from the handle or rendered irunn-rative as to tho elevating mechanism.

Further objects rention will appear from the lollmving detailed description thereof when read in connection with the drawings. in which Figure l is a view in cross section through the front end of. an elevating truck embodying my invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1, with parts in a different operative position;

F ig. 5 is a detailed view of the ratchet and pa wls in released position; and I Fig. (5 shows a. further detail structure.)

The truck illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a main frame 2 having at its forward end a fume or casing 4 for of the and advantages of my in-- supporting the operating members of the elevating mechanism of the truck. Front supporting and steering wheels 6 are carried upon an axle 8 extending through a forl' l steering wheel support 10. which has a shouldered u )per extension 12 swiveled in a. vertical hearing 14 at the front of the frame or casing 4. Between the forked members ll] of the steering wheel, a handle I? is pic oted on the axle to swing in a verti al plane. and serves as a means for pushing or pulling and steering the-truck. The load carrying member 1H of the tru k. which ex tends substantially parallel to the truck frame 2, is arranged to he raised with respect thereto by any suitable means. such, for instance, as shown in the patent to George P. Taylor #1,l22,l39, Dec. 29, 1914. and need not be here described. It will he ui'ulerstood that such means for elevating the member 18 will be operated by the horizontal travel of a pair of links 2(Lconnected at their forward ends by pivot 22 to the arms 24 ot' the segmental ratchets 26 mount ed on the cross shaft 28. The rocking of the, ratchets 26 about the axis of the cross shaft 28 in a counter-elockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, effects the elevation of the load carrying member 18 with respect 'to the frame 2.

The means for effecting the step-liy-step movement of the segmental ratchets about their axes contemplated in the present in vention. consists of a poweranultiplying arrangement comprising, in the illustrated form thereof, a pair of arms 30' pivotally mounted'at one end on the cross shaft 28, one of said arms being mounted adjacent cach ratchet. Each of said arms carries at an interml'diate point of its length a pivoted pawl 32 for engagement with the teeth 34 of the adjacent ratchet. A lever 36, fulcrumed at its lower cud at 38 on an axis extending transversely of the frame 4, parallel to the cross shaft 28. is connected to the arms 30 by means of a pair of short links 40 pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the intermediate portion of the lever 36 and the ends of the arms 30. respectively. The upper end or free end of the lever ill) has pivoted thereto at 0 osite sides. the upper ends of the coupling inks 42,'said links being uuitod by a plate or web 44 adapted to rcst'on the ppper edge of the vertical been is swung upward to the position shown iii" dotted line in Fig. 1. the pin 50 will strike the curved ends of the links 42 as the latter are held in position by means of the web 44 resting on the bearing 1-1. and by a cam action will raise the links and hold them in' such position until the pin is in registration with the recesses 40. into which the pin 50 will be received as the links drop down. The handle 16 having thus been connected, by the interlocking engagement of the hook 48 and pin 50. to the leveri-SG, and there fore to the arms 30 and the ratchets .26. the swinging of the handle in a vertical plane about the axle 8 causes the lever 30 and the arms 30 to oscillate and thus swing the ratchets 26 about their axis. thus elevating the load carrying member 18 in the well known manner. \Vhen the load has been elevated to the desired height, the operator ma disconnect the handle from the elevating mechanism by an upward kick on one of the hooks 48, thus rendering the handle free for steering the truck.

The load is maintained in its elevated position preferably by preventing the return movement of the ratchet members 20. This is accomplished by a pair of retaining pawls. such as 56, one for each ratchet memher. The construction and operation of one of said retaining pawls will be uinlerstoml more clearly by referring to Figs. 1. 4 aml Each retaining pawl comprises a hooked portion 100 and a tail portion 101 forming an integral part of a depending shank 103, said shank being pivoted at 104 to a pawL carrier 105. The pawl-carrim' 105 has trunnions 106 mounted in the frame 4. h'loping shoulders 107 upon said pawl-carrier coact with a Hat shoulder 108 on said pawl to permit 'of a slight rocking relative movement between said pawl and pawl-can rier. coiled spring 110 has one end hearing against the shoulder of the frame 4 and is wound around the trunnion of said pawlcarrier with its other end bearing against the foremost lower corner of the pawl shank 103. This spring tends to tilt the pawl 56 in a clockwise direction around its pivot 1.04 and also to rock the pawl-carrier 105 on its trunnions 106 in a clockwise direction to maintain hook 100 in'engagement'with the teeth 34 of ratchet member 26. A pawl controlling shaft 68 is mounted in the .frame 4 and has fixed at one end thereof a treadle This shaft is also provided with notches. such as 111, adapted to come heneath the tail portion 101 of each pawl 56 when said shaft is turned by the depression of the treadle. A spring l'12'normally keeps said treadle in its upper position against a stop 113 on said frame 4. In this upper position of the treadle, shaft 68 has its solid cylindrical portion beneath the tail 101 of pawl 50 but when said treadle 5B is depressed to bear against stop 11-1 also on frame 4, it will be understood that the notches 111 of said shaft ()8 will be brought beneath the tail portion 101 of each pawl 56, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby said pawl may freely tilt in a counter-clockwise di rection upon its pivot 10-1 and thus allow the ratchet teeth 34 to more upwardly for the descent of the load. Arms. such as T0, are fixed to shaft 68 and are connected by links such as 70. Fig. -1. having a slotted end 71 with a pin 72 upon each of the driv ing pawls 32. The pin-and slot connection between links T0 and pawls 32 permits of the free movement of the latter in operat ing the ratchet member 20 during the elevation of the load. and on the other hand. whcn'said shaft 68 is turned bylhe depression of the treadle 58. links T0 will pull pawls 32 out of driving cngagment with the ratchet teeth 3-1. dash pot or release check 12?). 120. of suitable construction. is connected between the frame 1 and the 'ratchet member 20 to cushion the descent of the load member 18. As shown this dash pot comprises a piston 125 pivotally coin nei ted at 127 to the frame 4 and a cylinder 12G pivotally connected at 1:28 to the rat het members 26.

lhe operation of the mini-retaining and releasing means is as follows. it being under stood that the mechanism is duplicated at each side of the machine: So long as treadle 4'18 is in its upper position against stop 113 thc'solid cylindrical portion of shaft (38 will lie beneath the tail 101 of pawl 56 and prevent. the tip )ing of said pawl upon pivot 104. The] riving pawl 32 will also be in a position for actlve engagement with the ratchet teeth 34, and this position of the parts is shown in Figs. 1 and l. .\s the Hi tation of the ratchet member 20 in a counte! cloclnvise direction is eflccted by the action of the-driving, pawl 32, the holding pawl it; acts after each step-by-step movement against the teeth 34 to preventthe return of said. ratchet "member 26. The downward movement of the teeth 34 against the hook 100 of the pawl 56 will tilt said lpawl \lightly on its pivot 104 and will. in at dition cause a bodily swinging movement of the pawl carrier 105 on its trunnion 106 toward the front of the machine, the tail portion an 1 during this movement sliding oveiwthe cylindrical portion of the shaftftlS, said pawl and pawl-carrier of course being returned into holding position by the spring 107 after the passage of each tooth 34L it will he understood that. when a heavy load is on the load-siuiporting member 18, tending to lower the same and thus swing th ratchet member 26 in a clockwise direction, the tecthIi-l will hear upwardly with comiderable force against the hooked portion Hill of the holding pawl 56. The portion 1th) and the teeth 34 preferably have the hook-like coaction shown to prevent this upward pressure of the teeth 34 from effecting any disengagement of the retaining pawl .30. It will be clear that if pawl 56 were integral with the pawl-carrier 105 so as to he rockable only on the trunnions 10G, con siderahle force would he'required on the part of the operator to pull said retaining pawl away from the teeth- 34, due to the upward pressure of the latter. Furthermore, such a forceful disengagement of the retaining pawl would soon wear out the hook l'Utl and teeth Iiut since the retaining pawl 50 has a secondary pivot at 1U-L on the pa \vl-carrier located so as to furnish an effective moment to the pressure of teeth 3* against the hook 100 in tipping the pawl, no forceful disengagement of pawl 56 is required. By depressing treadle 58, the. shaft 68 is turned to lH'll'lf notch 111 beneath tail 101 of pawl 56. 'l i-is position is shown in Fig. 5. The pawl 56 is then free to rock on it. *condur) pivot 10 under the upward pressure of teeth 34. The turning of shaft on al o simultaneously pulls the driving pawh 3:! out of active engagement with teeth 34-. whet-eh the ratchet it) will return to its upper position and the load member 18 will descend. The descent will lie cushioned by the dash-pot 125i, 126.

it is to he understood that while I have herein disclosed a specific type of means for attaining the objects set forth. my invention i not limited to this embodiment thereof but may be modified in its details and may be applied to trucks of different construction than that illustrated.

What I claim is 1. In an elevating truck provided'with a movable handle, load elevating mechanism comprising in combination a ratchet, an ascillatory arm and a pawl for said ratchet on said arm, and power-multiplyin means connected to said ar 1 and arrange for detachable engagemen with said handle.

2. In an elevating truck comprising atruck frame and a load supportin member, and provided with a pivoted hen 1e, elevatmg means for raising the'said load support- ,ing member and power-m'ultipl ing means for operatively connecting sai handle to saidelevating means, said )ower-multipl ing means being detacha lefrom ,Sllld handle, to permit the use of the handle in steering the truck, and from said elevating means to permit the load supporting member to descend.

In an elevating truck comprising a truck frame and provided with a pivoted handle. load-elevating mechanism compris ing a ratchet, an arm pivoted at one end on said frame, a driving pawl for said ratchet on said arm. means for operativelv connects iug said arm with the handle of the truck, and treadlecontrolled means for moving said pawl into and out of operative relation with said ratchet.

i. In an elevating truck comprising a truck frame and provided with a pivoted handle, load-elevating mechanism comprising a ratchet, an arm pivoted on said frame, a driving pawl for said ratchet on said a rm, and a link connected to said arm and ar ranged to detachahly engage said handle.

In an elevating truck comprising a. truck frame and provided with a pivoted. handle. load-clevating mechanism comprising a ratchet, an arm pivoted on said frame, a driving pawl for said ratchet on said arm, a link connected to said arm and arranged to detachablv engage said handle, and treadle-controlled means for moving said pawl into and out of operative relation to said ratchet.

(i. In anelevating truck comprising a truck frame and provided with a pivoted handlp, load-elevating mechanism comprising a ratchet mounted to swing about an axis. an arm iivoted to swing about the axis of said rateiet, a driving pawl for said ratchet carried by said arm, and means for detachably connecting said arm and the han dle of the truck.

7. In an elevating truck comprising a truck frame and provided with a pivoted handle. lmul-elevating mechanism compris ing a ratchet mounted to swing about an axis. an arm pivoted to swing about the axis of said ratchet. a driving pawl for said ratchet carried by said arm. and a hook member connected to said arm and arranged to detachablv engage the handle of the truck.

8. In an elevatin truck comprising a truck frame providetlhvith a pivoted handle, load-elevating mechanism compris ing a ratchet. an arm. pivotedjon said frame, a driving pawl for said ratchet on said arm, a lever fulcrumed on said frame, a link connecting said arm and lever, and means carried by said lever for detachable engagement with, the handle of the truck. l

9. In an elevating truck comprising a truck frame provided with a pivoted handle, load-elevating mechanism comprising a ratchet, an arm pivoted at. one end on said frame, a driving pawl on said arm for said ratchet, a. lever fulcrumed at one end on said frame, a iinkconnecting the other end till of said arm with an intermediate ortion of saidlevel, and means for detac abl engaging the free end of said lever wit the handle of the truck.

10. In an elevating truck, a truck frame, a pivoted handle, a load-supporting mem ber, mechanism for raising said load-supporting member and means for elfecting an operative connection between said mechanlsln and said handle comprising a series of power-multiplying members pivoted at one end on said frame, operating connections between the other end of each member of the series and an intermediate portion of the next succeeding member.

1.1. In an elevating truck, a truck frame and a load-supporting member, means for raising said load-supporting member comprising a ratchet, a series of members pivoted at one end on said frame, the opposite end of each member of the series being con nected to the next succeeding member at an intermediate point thereof, and a driving pawl pivoted at an intermediate point of the iirst member of the series for engagement with said ratchet.

12. In an elevating truck, a truck frame and a load-supporting member, means for raising said load-supporting member comprising a ratchet, a series of members pivoted at one end on saidframe, the opposite end of each member of the series being connected to the next succeeding member at an intermediate point thereof, the last member of the series constituting a handle for the truck, and a driving pawl pivoted at an intermediate point of the first member of the series for engagement with said ratchet.

13. An elevating truck,- comprising in combination a frame, a handle pivoted on said frame to swing in a vertical plane. a lmid-supporting member mounted on said frame, pawl and ratchet mechanism for elevating said load-suppbrting member, said mechanism comprising an oscillatory arm on which said pawl is mounted, a link connected at one end to said arm, the other end of the link and the handle of the truck having cooperating interlocking means arranged to be brought into engagement by an upward movement of said handle.

14. An elevating truck, com rising in combination a main frame, a handle pivoted on said frame to swin r in a vertical plane, a load-supporting mem r mounted on said frame, pawl and ratchetmechanism for ele vating said load-supporting member, a lever fulcrumed at one end on said frame and connected to said pawl and ratchet mechanism. a -link pivotally connected at one end to the free end of said lever, said handle having a transversely extending pin thereon. the other end of said link having a recess on its underside to receive said in, the extremity of said end being curve coiiperating means on said link and on said truck frame for holding said curved end in the path of said pin hereb On an upward swing of said hand e s'aic pin will engage said curved portion, thus raising said link, and a continued upward movement of the handle will permit said link to drop back into position with said pin in said recess to cause said lever to partake ofthe swinging movement 51' said handle.

15. In an elevating truck, a truck frame, a handle therefor ivoted to swing in a vertical plane, :1 10a -elevating mechanism on said truck frame, means for operating said mechanism from the handle comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said frame. a lever fulcrumed on said frame, a pair of links connecting said arms to said lever. a-pair of coupling links pivotally mounted at one end or the free end of said lever, means on said iiriks for engagementby said handle to Connect the links and handle, and means cdmiecting said 0011 ling links and coiiperating' vdith the truck rame to hold the links' in position to be engaged by the handle.

Signed at Holyoke, Mass, this 8th day of May, 1917. v

DANIEL E. HENNESSY. 

